South Africa's civil servants are missing skills especially when it comes to technology

The Conversation|Published

The study found that most South African government officials were familiar with the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. But they were not familiar ...

And who will Trump's tariffs hit the hardest? The US, of course

The Conversation|Published

The tariffs decrease US GDP by $438. 4 billion (1. 45%). Divided among the nation’s 126 million households, GDP per household decreases by $3 487 per year. That ...

Why Nigerian mums go overseas to have their babies

The Conversation|Published

In the UK, the phenomenon is labelled by some as the “Lagos Shuttle”, highlighting the high number of Nigerian women said to be so-called “birth tourists”.

Wealthy nations owe climate debt to Africa

The Conversation|Published

Urban economist Astrid Haas reviews a new report by the non-governmental organisation Action Aid on climate debt. She discusses the climate debt owed to Africa and ...

Zulu royal traditions are changing with the times

The Conversation|Published

AmaZulu king Misuzulu kaZwelithini has been in the headlines because he filed divorce papers against his first wife, Queen Ntokozo kaMayisela, in order to marry ...

How superhero comics tell the story of Jewish America

The Conversation|Published

This is the story of Superman: one of the most recognizable characters in history is, at its core, the ultimate story of an immigrant and the American Dream.

Seven friends plan cycle trip from Soweto to Kimberley to raise money for school libraries

The Conversation|Published

Soweto-based entrepreneur Mpumelelo Mtintso and six friends are planning a five-day bicycle journey to Kimberley in the Northern Cape to raise R100,000 for two school ...

Dinosaur tracks, made 140 million years ago, have been found for the first time in South Africa’s Western Cape

The Conversation|Published

Guy Plint, Professor Emeritus, Earth Sciences at Western University and Charles Helm, Research Associate, African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience at the Nelson ...

US trade wars with China and how they play out in Africa

The Conversation|Published

Since taking office, US president Donald Trump has implemented policies that have been notably hostile towards China. They include trade restrictions. Most recently, ...

The female explorers who braved the wilderness but were left out of history

The Conversation|Published

throughout history, female explorers have not only had to face the harsh realities of rugged terrain, but also the ghosting from their male colleagues.

Athol Fugard: The great South African playwright who captured what it means to be human

The Conversation|Published

Dennis Walder reflects on how Athol Fugard helped people to understand the world we live in and the human condition.

How Coloured South African learners feel about being erased from history textbooks

The Conversation|Published

In the grade 9 South African curriculum assessment policy statements for History the term "Coloured" is not mentioned. In contrast, the racial terms “white”, “Black” ...

Deeply religious African countries provide little state support to religion – unlike in Europe

The Conversation|Published

In most of the world, countries with religious populations are more likely to have governments that support religion through laws and policies. These laws might ...

‘Working for Water’ programme is meant to lead to skills and jobs: why it’s failing

The Conversation|Published

OPINION: South Africa’s ‘Working for Water’ programme was designed to control invasive alien plants while providing employment and skills training to unemployed ...

Baboons and human fear - a deep history behind the cruel attacks

The Conversation|Published

People are far more aggressive towards baboons than the other way round. Analysis suggests that the rage is not really just about baboons, but about society’s anxiety ...

How Putin and Musk are weakening European democracies

The Conversation|Published

Concerns about Russian election interference are nothing new, but so far the picture of Moscow’s success is rather mixed.

Most of the world has long feared US power. Now its allies do too.

The Conversation|Published

Donald Trump is doing things differently. It seems his goal is to strike fear into the heart not of America’s foes, but rather its friends.

Ukraine isn’t invited to its own peace talks. History is full of such examples and the results are devastating

The Conversation|Published

It is not the first time large powers have colluded to negotiate new borders or spheres of influence without the input of the people who live there.

The EU was built for another age – how it must adapt to survive

The Conversation|Published

The US president, Donald Trump, may now even be tempted to finish off the EU

Russia’s shrinking world: The war in Ukraine and Moscow’s global reach

The Conversation|Published

From the Sahel to Syria, Russia’s Vladimir Putin is becoming less influential.

Is it true you need to love yourself before you can find romantic love?

The Conversation|Published

What of drag queen RuPaul’s catchphrase “if you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?”

Is Earth losing its natural cooling systems?

The Conversation|Published

January’s record heat highlights how human-driven ocean warming is increasingly overwhelming natural climate cooling patterns

Online romance scams: Nigeria and Ghana’s fraudsters, how they operate, and why they do it

The Conversation|Published

Online platforms have become popular meeting places for people looking to find intimate partners, making them a prime target for cyber criminals.

Zama zamas: police brutality won’t end it

The Conversation|Published

Horrendous images of the emaciated figures of the living and the dead as they were brought to the surface at Stilfontein show the failure of Operation Vala Umgodi ...

Why is Rwanda throwing its weight around Africa?

The Conversation|Published

Rwanda’s controversial foreign policy, whose hallmark is military diplomacy, has attracted international attention